The RNC distances itself from billionaire mega-donor Koch brothers

The Republican National Committee is distancing itself
from the megadonor Koch brothers after disputes about
candidates and the direction of the party.

RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel claimed in a memo that
the Kochs are putting business interests ahead of the
party.

WASHINGTON — The ongoing feud between the Republican-boosting
Koch network and the Trump-controlled Republican National
Committee heated up on Thursday when RNC chairwoman Ronna
McDaniel circulated a memo
to donors to distance themselves from the billionaire mega
donors.

“First, the most important thing to know is the President Trump
has continually made very clear that the RNC is his political arm
and he has put his faith in the RNC as the entity that he works
with to elect Republicans,” McDaniel wrote in a memo to
high-profile donors. “Second, some groups who claim to support
conservatives forgo their commitment when they decide their
business interests are more important than those of the country
or Party. This is unacceptable.”

McDaniel wrote that while they have “been prepared for this for
years,” they have also “fundamentally changed how the RNC
operates.”

“We shifted our focus away from TV and mail advertising into a
system where the RNC sits at the center of Republican election
operations,” McDaniel said.

McDaniel concluded the letter by noting the party’s
infrastructure is strong enough to operate on its own.

“In closing I want to be very clear: the RNC proved in 2014 and
2016 that the Party is the only entity which can be trusted with
the data Republicans candidates need to win up and down the
ballot — and this week proves why it is NECESSARY that the Party
keep building on our successful operation,” she wrote.

The Koch network has traditionally been conservative, sometimes
libertarian-leaning, and policy focused. Emphasis on the latter
has intensified as the Trump administration has moved forward
with agenda items like protectionist trade policies.

The hostility has reached a boiling point, with Trump launching
Twitter tirades against the Koch Network in recent days.

“The globalist Koch Brothers, who have become a total joke in
real Republican circles, are against Strong Borders and
Powerful Trade,” Trump
wrote on Twitter Tuesday. “I never sought their support
because I don’t need their money or bad ideas. They love my Tax
& Regulation Cuts, Judicial picks & more.”